Land Use, take two

David Crossley, executive director of the Gulf Coast Institute, began by trying to debunk two myths. One is that “Houston was designed around the car” and that it’s never had planning.

Crossley used historical maps to show that the city actually grew up around its “smart growth port” with a well-designed downtown street grid. And pre-World War II expansion was along streetcar lines.

“This plan worked for about 100 years,” Crossley said. It was after the World War II that federal highways began to “spread out buildings and spread out uses,” “requiring us to drive everywhere.”

Crossley also says that Houston does have regulations, particularly Chapter 42, which defines “urban” as anything in the 610 Loop, and “surburban” as anything outside the Loop. Satellite photos show that this arbitrary line doesn’t really work.

In the older neighborhoods along the (vanished) streetcar lines fewer miles are driven, Crossley said.

To counteract what Cox said, Crossley cited a Brookings Institute study that says market demand — not land availability — is what drives housing costs.

“It’s not a question about planning or not planning — we do huge amounts of planning — it’s about what we plan,” he concluded.